Queensland’s peak representative body for rural producers is backing calls from Cattle Australia for an independent scientific review to reassess the decision to lift biosecurity restrictions on beef imported from the United States.
AgForce general president Shane McCarthy says the Federal Government decision may have blindsided some cattle producers, as industry was not aware of how quickly and in what manner the decision would be announced.
“The Health Minister announcing it on Sunrise was not a great look,” Mr McCarthy said.
“An Independent panel of scientists must review this decision to make sure all protocols were followed.
“This is not out of line with independent reviews of other recent biosecurity measures which all underwent this process.
“If the process was vigorous and robust this should not be a problem.”
He said the Queensland beef industry will be very concerned, despite reassurances from the Minister and the Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry that cattle born and raised in Mexico or Canada before slaughter in the US will comply with Australia’s standards for biosecurity and food safety.
“Queensland has the largest cattle herd and therefore we have the most to lose if something goes pear shaped,” Mr McCarthy said.
“From our point of view there will be no backing down on biosecurity controls.”
Mr McCarthy called for the highest level of caution to be exercised to protect the cattle industry which is so valuable to Australia.
“We take our biosecurity protocols and reputation very seriously, and the amount of money that agriculture is worth to the Australian economy, so should the federal government,” he said.
“While the US is a close ally – we need to maintain our biosecurity and sovereignty.”
He said one of the greatest concerns to the industry is – if the federal government has backed down on this request from the US, then what else could they be prepared to compromise.
“If biosecurity is put at risk – the impacts on Australian agriculture could be devastating,” he said.
“We’ve always said that we need to base decisions on vigorous scientific research and protocols. If this has been done that’s fine. But we need the reassurance that an independent panel report would provide.
“Mexican cattle are currently not being imported into the US because of screwworm, and Canadian beef is traceable. All we ask is that the standards we provide to the US – they provide to us.
“And with the current price of beef in America, it’s highly unlikely that they would send beef to this market.
“The Australian government needs to always back our farmers.
“We will not compromise our biosecurity.”
